Listen to My Voice

 

Readings 031226

People say, “I wish we had more faith formation programs.”
And yet—when the doors open, many don’t come.
But some do.
And when they gather, something holy happens.
They lean in.
They ask.
They wrestle.
They share.
They want to know the God who is already calling their name.

And maybe I understand that longing more than I used to.

Because when I was young, I did a lot of things I shouldn’t have done.
A lot of it was sinful.
A lot of it was just plain stupid.
I thought I was invincible.
I thought nothing could harm me.
I thought, “This could be fun.”
And too often, I ignored that small voice of conscience—
that whisper of reason,
that nudge of grace.
A challenge, a dare, a crowd, a moment—
that’s all it took to pull me down the wrong path.

A lot of us lived that way, some still do.

But somewhere in the middle of all that noise,
I finally decided to listen—
really listen—
to God speaking to my heart.

So when I hear the Lord say,
“Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people.
Walk in my ways, so that you may prosper,”
I hear not just a command,
but a Father who was calling me even when I wasn’t listening.

But Scripture says they did not listen.
They turned their backs, not their faces.
And you can almost feel the ache in God’s heart—
the ache of a Father who wants His children close.

Yet even now—
even in our distractions,
even in our excuses,
even in our half-hearted desire—
God calls again:
“Return to me with your whole heart,
for I am gracious and merciful.”

And Jesus makes it plain:
“Whoever is not with me is against me.
Whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

There is no neutral ground in discipleship.
To gather is to grow.
To gather is to belong.
To gather is to let God turn our face back toward Him.

So we keep the door open.
We keep inviting.
We keep teaching.
Because when even a few return—
when even one heart listens—
the Kingdom begins again, right here among us.
And maybe—just maybe—
someone like the younger version of me
will hear God’s voice at last
and turn their face toward mercy.

PRAYER

Lord,
Draw me back with my whole heart.
Turn my face toward Your mercy again.
Quiet every voice that pulls me away.
Gather the scattered pieces of my desire.
Let Your grace soften what has grown hard.
Teach me to walk in the ways that lead to life.
And make my returning a witness that leads others home.
Amen.